Thursday, 20 August 2015

Today's the Day - 21st August

250
years ago: King William IV was born on this day in 1765. Born at Buckingham Palace, he ascended the throne in
1830 at the age of 64 – the oldest person ever to assume the throne. He
was unassuming, disliking pomp and ceremony and was known throughout his
early reign to walk unaccompanied through London
and Brighton, making him very popular
with his subjects. His reign lasted 6 days short of 7 years when he passed
away from heart failure at Windsor
Castle.

80
years ago: John Hartley, the no.1 tennis player in the world during 1879-1880,
died on this day in 1935. Winning Wimbledon
in both those years and runner-up in 1881, he has the distinction of being
the only clergyman to ever be successful at the tournament. He passed away
in Knaresborough, Yorkshire at the age of
86.

75
years ago: Marxist revolutionary and Soviet politician Leon Trotsky
was assassinated on this day in 1940. Killed in Mexico City, where he had been living
for 4 years, he was attacked by Ramón Mercader who used a mountaineer’s
ice axe as a weapon. It didn’t kill him instantly, he was taken to
hospital where they operated, but he passed away from excessive blood loss
and shock. He was 60.